Engineering Disciplines:

What do engineers do?

Fall 2012
Lecture # XX

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Engineers are constantly evolving
• Some disciplines have
become extinct because of
society’s changing needs
• As we progress through this
new millennium it is
inevitable that new
engineering disciplines will
develop and more will fall to
the wayside
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 Let’s Look At UTD engineers
• BE
• CE
• CS
• EE
• ME
• SE
• TE 3
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 Bioengineering
The application of engineering principles to biological systems

• Encompasses many fields of study, including chemistry,

physics, technology, and medicine
• One of the newest and fastest growing disciplines
• Applies the fundamentals of engineering to meet the needs of
the medical community
– Biomedical Engineers develop devices and procedures that solve
medical and health-related problems.
– Biomedical Engineers work with medical professionals to develop
medical instruments, monitoring equipment, artificial organs, and
prosthetic devices.
• Examples of their work:
– Genetically modifying a plant or animal to produce a disease-resistant
strain
– Developing the chemical process necessary to make an artificial kidney
function 5
 Laser Systems for
Corrective eye surgery.

Computers for
Blood analysis

Implantable Ultrasound Imaging Equipment

Hip Joints

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• Bioengineers work at the intersection of
engineering and the life sciences, developing
new technologies that improve people’s
health and well-being.

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 Computer Engineering
Design and build computer-related hardware products for
many applications, such as personal computers, cell phones,
automobiles, and even washing machines

• Apply the theories of science and mathematics to

design hardware, software, networks, computer
chips, and processors
• Often work in teams
• One of the fastest growing disciplines
• Difference between computer science:
– Computer scientists focus on software and its optimization
– Computer engineers focus on computer hardware or the
machine itself
• Security is becoming a huge concern of computer
engineers
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 Computer Engineering
• Hardware and Chip Design
• Development of Software Applications
• Integrating components together, i.e. device
driver software
• Project Management – teams located in
multiple places
• Chip Fabrication
• Test and Quality Assurance (QA)
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 Global Positioning Unit

Open Source software

Invites lots of developers
to create new applications
Using Languages such as JAVA.
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 Computer Scientist /
Software Engineer

 Someone who designs, builds, upgrades or maintain software

 Focuses on developing software applicable to demanded tasks, test
or debug software, or build large systems
 Very important career in demand as new software needs to be
constantly developed and upgraded
 Goal is production of error free software to solve a particular
problem
 Software Engineering v.s.
Computer Science
• The computer scientist investigates several
ways to produce software, some good and
some bad.
• But the software engineer is interested in
only those techniques that make sound
economic sense.

For example: A coding technique that can

execute very efficiently but with higher
maintenance cost may not be a good
choice, since maintenance occupies a lot of
resources of the whole life cycle.
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 What is the difference between software
engineering and computer science?
Computer Software
Science Engineering
is concerned with
 theory  the practicalities of developing
 fundamentals & delivering useful software
“best” technical algorithm within economic considerations

Computer science theories are currently

insufficient to act as a complete underpinning for
software engineering, BUT it is a foundation for
practical aspects of software engineering
Programming versus Software Engineering
• Programming
1. The process of translating a problem from its physical environment
into a language that a computer can understand and obey. (Webster’s
New World Dictionary of Computer Terms)
2. The art of debugging a blank sheet of paper.
3. A pastime similar to banging one's head against a wall, but with
fewer opportunities for rewards. (2 and 3 from The New Hacker’s
Dictionary)
• Software Engineering
• “The establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to
obtain economically software that is reliable and works efficiently on real
machines.”
 The Difference Between Computer
Science and Software Engineering
Computer
Customer
Science

Theory of Algorithms & Programming ... Problem

Computation Data Languages
Structures

Software
Engineering

Tools and Techniques

to Solve Problem
The Department of Computer Science offers bachelor of science degrees in computer
science and in software engineering. Both programs of study are based on a solid
foundation of mathematics, including calculus, linear algebra and discrete
mathematics. These are designed to offer students opportunities to prepare for
careers in a rapidly changing profession, whether they choose after graduation to
enter industry, business or government.
The computer science and software engineering programs have the same basis in
core computer science, including modern programming methodologies, the analysis of
algorithms and data structures, and the study of operating systems. The computer
science program continues with courses in advanced data structures, programming
languages and automata theory, whereas the software engineering program includes
courses in requirements engineering, software validation and testing, and software
architecture.

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 Electrical Engineering
Responsible for the design, development, testing, and
supervision of the manufacturing of electrical equipment

• Deals with the motion of electrons in metals

• Work focused on:
– large electrical systems
– motors and generators
– electrical circuits in buildings
– power transmission systems
– electrical generation plants
• Concerned with making their designs efficient, long lasting, cost-effective,
and safe
• The discipline that employs the largest number of engineers, covers
everything related to electrical devices, systems, and the use of electricity.
• Electrical engineers work on power plants, computers, and other electrical
devices.
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Electrical Engineering
Play a role in almost everything we
interact with on a daily basis. They
design smaller, cheaper, and better:
• cell phones
• computers
• power systems
• appliances
• robots

Apply specialized skill to the design, manufacture, application,

installation, and operation of electrical products and systems.

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 Mechanical Engineering
Design, produce, operate, and service machines and
mechanical devices
• Second largest engineering discipline after electrical engineering
• Mechanical engineers use mechanics and energy principles to design
machines such as tools, engines, machines, motors, and other devices.
• Many mechanical engineers work in the areas of air-conditioning and
refrigeration, automotives, manufacturing, welding, robotics, and
mechatronics.
• They study materials, heat and energy transfer, manufacturing
technologies

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Mechanical Engineering
• Concerned with design, manufacture &
operation of a wide range of components,
devices, or systems:
• microscopic parts (nanotechnology) to
gigantic gears
• heating, ventilation, refrigeration
• manufacturing equipment (tanks, motors,
pumps)
• laser technology
• biomedical applications
• automotive industry
• computer-aided design, automation,
robotics

Broadest of all the engineering disciplines in its range of activities

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 A mechanical engineer designs
anything that uses mechanical motion

Robotics

Underwater Vehicle Computer Modeling

Consumer &
Baby products
Prototyping

Food Handling 23
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 Telecommunication Engineering
• Overview
– Lies at the heart of most information exchange, including telephone communications,
broadcasting and the Internet.
– Blend of knowledge from electrical engineering and computer science, focusing on
communications networks and systems.
• Careers in Telecommunications Engineering
– Telecommunications engineering is a dynamic and rapidly developing field as a result of
today’s heavy reliance on the Internet, cellphones, broadband, wireless networks,
broadcasting and satellite applications. Telecom engineers design, implement and
manage systems for processing and transmitting information, finding career
opportunities in such areas as:
• Computer communications and networking
• Mobile communications
• Voice and data networks
• TV and radio broadcasting
• Optical networking
• Remote sensing, measurement and control
• Next-generation networks
– Telecommunications engineers also find employment in broader areas such as electronic
engineering, instrumentation engineering, computer engineering, systems analysis and
control engineering.

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 One more discipline to consider…
• FastTrack option
• No Bachelor degree offered at UTD
• Master in Systems Engineering

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Systems engineering and
management (SEM) is an interdisciplinary
field that focuses on the engineering and
management of complex projects. Dealing with
issues such as automatic control of machinery,
coordination of teams, work processes and tools to
handle such projects, it overlaps with technical
disciplines such as control engineering as well as
human-centered disciplines such as project
management.

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The National Center for Education Statistics defines systems engineering
as a “program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific
principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of total
systems solutions to a wide variety of engineering problems, including the
integration of human, physical, energy, communications, management and
information requirements as needed, and the application of requisite
analytical methods to specific situations.”
Systems engineering is concerned with the overall process of defining,
developing, operating and maintaining quality systems. Whereas other
engineering disciplines concentrate on the details of individual aspects of a
system (such as electronics, mechanics, aerodynamics and software),
systems engineering is concerned with the integration of all these aspects
into a coherent and effective system. Systems engineers concentrate their
efforts on the aspects of the engineering process (such as requirements
definition, top-level functional designs, project management and life-cycle
cost analysis) that serve to organize and coordinate other engineering
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activities.
Engineer Occupational Outlook
• Expected to grow as fast as the average for all
occupations over the next decade (about 11%)
• Growth will vary by specialty
• Technological advances will not to limit employment
in engineering, like in other occupations, because
engineers continue to develop new products and
systems
• Offshoring of engineering work will slow domestic
employment growth because foreign engineers are
willing to work for lower salaries
• Engineers work on long-term research and
development projects so they are less affected by
economic slowdowns
• Engineers must continue their education throughout
their careers since much of their value depends on
their knowledge of the latest technology
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Class Discussion
What can you learn
about engineering
disciplines from your dog
or cat?

LOTS!!!!
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Meet Fido (or Fluffy)

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 Fido & Fluffy
• Fido is a good dog
– But he likes to explore “off the leash”
• Fluffy is a good cat
– But he likes to explore the neighborhood
• PROBLEM: What if they forget where they
live?

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 Solution
• Make them wear a collar with ID tag so
humans can “help” them find their way back
to your house

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 But
• Fido has a rare skin disease and the collar
irritates his skin
• Fluffy is smart and has figured out how to get
out of his collar
• PROBLEM: What if they forget where they live
and are not wearing their collar?

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 Solution
• Have a tiny device inserted under the skin that
can be scanned with a special scanner to get
their personal information
• CONSIDERATIONS:
– How to get device under the skin?
– What material is safe for under the skin?
– How will the device be powered?
– Will all the pet info be on the device?
– If owner moves, how will the info be updated?
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 CLASS TASK
• Brainstorm additional considerations

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 How it Basically Works
• Information Database contains all info
• Chip implanted under the skin by vet
• Owner registers with information
• Special scanner provides sufficient energy to
read the implanted device

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 CLASS TASK
• How do each of the 7
UTD engineering
disciplines participate in
the “Pet Finder”
solution?
• HINT: yes…all 7
participate in a unique
way!!!
• Assume the pet owner
is an A&H major…not an
Engineering major! 39
 Homework #2
• For each of the 7 UTD Engineering UG
disciplines
– List 3 specific ways the engineering discipline
would contribute to the overall solution of “Pet
Finder”
• Due one week from today (Hand in through
eLearning)

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